06.07.11
Global Industry Analysts has released a comprehensive report on the North American Housewraps market. Although the prolonged severity of the economic slowdown and depressed construction industryelicited declines in housewrap sales between 2007 to 2009, the market staged a recovery in 2010 and is projected to register $2.79 billion in sales by 2017.
Growth in the North American housewraps market is expected to be driven by increase in building construction activity as a result of post recession resurgence in residential and non-residential construction spends. Growing focus on energy efficient construction, tighter insulation standards and sustainable building practices will also help drive demand for housewraps in the region.
The use of weatherization products in construction is not a new concept as several weather resistant barriers placed over outer sheathing of walls have been put to use in home constructions for many decades. Building paper or nonwovens, the traditional weatherization product, which is designed to safeguard a house from exterior water penetration, continues to find adoption as a weather resistant barrier even today. However, developments in materials over the last two decades have led to the introduction of advanced and highly versatile synthetic housewrap materials, which offer dual protection against water penetration and air/dust infiltration, while simultaneously helping moisture to escape through the exterior envelope thus keeping the walls dry. With over two decades of presence in the mainstream market, housewraps now stands transformed into an essential building envelope product supported by technological advancements, which have helped make the advantages offered even more cutting edge.
As the economy improves further in the short to medium term period, the housewraps market will regain its lost momentum, encouraged by the fact that tighter insulation practices will continue to remain a key feature in modern housing constructions in the region. The need for well-insulated, weather resistant residential and commercial buildings will continue to offer a fertile environment for the growth of housewraps market. The trend toward energy efficient and green buildings, which not only offer considerable cost benefits for home owners in terms of savings on operating costs for heating homes, but also prove beneficial to the environment by ensuring reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and controlling climate change, will continue to drive demand for housewraps in the years to come. Sustainable building practices are also emerging as a major trend in the industry, further propelling the use of housewraps.
As stated by the new market research report on Housewraps, the U.S. remains the largest regional market for Housewraps. Comparatively a small market in terms of dollar sales, Canada nevertheless is the fastest growing regional market for housewraps in North America, waxing at a CAGR of more than 16% over the analysis period.
Major players in the marketplace include Alpha Pro Tech Ltd., Berry Plastics, CS Fabric International Corporation, Dow Building Solutions, DuPont, Fiberweb Plc, Intertape Polymer Group, Johns Manville, Owens Corning, Pactiv Corporation, PGI, Raven Industries Inc. and The Fortifiber Building Systems Group.